MANHATTAN — Of all the things on Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman’s plate leading up to this week’s season opener, the least of his concerns is his starting quarterback.
The fact that Avery Johnson is a sophomore beginning his first season as the unquestioned QB1, there are bound to be some nerves, right? The hype and the expectations have been there from the time he stepped on campus, and only intensified after he helped lead the Wildcats to a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory last December.
So, when K-State plays host to Tennessee-Martin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, just what is Klieman’s plan for helping Johnson through those early moments? Simple, really.
“I know Avery, I’m not worried about how I manage things,” Klieman said. “Cut the kid loose; let him play. The kid’s really good, and so I’m not managing anything.”
That’s fine with Johnson, who for all the excitement surrounding his arrival last year from Maize High School, is as confident in his ability as they come. He doesn’t have time for nerves.
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“No, just based on the fact that I prepared for this moment my whole life, and if I wasn’t prepared, then where would probably be some nerves there,” Johnson said. “But I’m just super blessed to be able to go out there and be able to play the game that I love and be able to play at a school like Kansas State where the fans have so much support.
“So, I don’t feel like there’s any pressure to go out. I’ve just got to go out there and do what I’ve been doing my whole life, and that’s just having fun playing the game.”
Johnson offered several glimpses last year that he was ready for a bigger stage while pushing starter Will Howard for playing time from the start. The biggest regular-season moment came on Oct. 14 at Texas Tech, when he came on in relief and rushed for 90 yards and five touchdowns while completing 8 of 9 passes in a 38-21 come-from-behind victory.
And then there was the Pop-Tarts Bowl, where Johnson stepped in as the starter after Howard entered the transfer portal. Johnson was named most valuable player in the Wildcats’ 28-19 victory over North Carolina State.
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Overall, Johnson appeared in eight games and completed 56% of his passes for 479 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. And he rushed for 296 yards and seven scores.
More importantly, he already has gained the trust of everyone around him.
“I’m not saying we have them here, but we all know the four-star, the five-star (player) that shows up and doesn’t work,” said senior offensive tackle Carver Willis. “That shows up and is like, ‘Oh, I don’t have to work, I’m this talented.’
Thankfully, Avery shows up, he is that talented and then goes, ‘No, I’m going to work on top of it.’ And so, the respect he’s earned in the locker room for things like that allows him to lead in the capacity he does and allows everyone just to have an overall trust level in Avery that’s exceptionally high.”
So, when Johnson steps on the field Saturday, he doesn’t feel that he has anything to prove.
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“I feel like the only battle is just me competing with myself every day,” he said. “I wouldn’t say there’s anything I have to prove to anyone, because I know what I’m capable of, and everybody inside of this building knows what I can do whenever I have the football in my hand.”
As for Klieman, his advice to Johnson is to just be himself.
“I’m going to encourage him, tell him I love him, tell him how much I believe in him and go play,” Klieman said. “‘Go do what you do. You’ve been waiting for this opportunity,’ and he’ll make plays within himself.
“But man, I’m as excited as you guys are.”
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: No nerves for Kansas State football QB Avery Johnson ahead of opener
